You thought an octopus had eight tentacles? Think again:
A giant Pacific octopus called Mavis has helped researchers to prove that the one thing everyone knows about the creatures is wrong.
The name octopus is derived from the Ancient Greek for eight feet. Mavis, who lives in a tank at Weymouth Sea Life Centre, actually has six arms and two legs.
How marvellous, when scientists overturn our preconceptions like this. Six arms and two legs, eh?
Octopuses are among the most intelligent of marine creatures and can learn to open jam jars and manipulate small objects such as the Rubik’s Cube – although, so far as is known, none has yet succeeded in solving the puzzle.
So far as is known, note. Somewhere in the depths of the Pacific Ocean there may well be an octopus – several octopuses – that have already solved the problem and are now awaiting the next big challenge. With six arms, who knows what wonders they're capable of?
Mick Hartley 
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